Life Lately

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I thought since October is practically over and November is looking at us like, “hey weren’t you just here” I would do a catch up post…

– Firstly this morning I woke up to a strange man tapping on my leg to get my attention. Dressed in a thick jacket and wool hat he kept my gaze as I physically recoiled in shock. He then held out his hand and asked for my train ticket because I had clearly fallen asleep on the train… AWKWARD!!! Not as awkward as the time I fell asleep on the train with a booklet I bought from organization promoting sign language and the person asking for my ticket woke me up and started signing to me.

– On the topic of awkward; yesterday in church the lady sitting behind us was wearing an eye patch and Aidan decided to loudly proclaim: “look mommy a pirate”. When I gently and quietly explained to him that the lady was injured he turns to her and tells her she should go to a doctor because the doctors fix you. He is usually in Sunday School but it was a special anniversary service so he was restlessly sitting with us and when I tapped his fingers for using the bibles and hymnals as building blocks he loudly in a silent church asks “why do you hurt me mommy, I’m so eina now”.  His antics were not missed and at a lunch after church (we quickly dropped him at my mom) people were asking for him and no less than four older members of the church (we have actually only been there for this year) came to us and reassured us that “children will be children” They all thought Aidan was energetic and busy (he kept singing Twinkle Little Star if he didn’t know the words of a song) but also pretty well behaved and sweet and did not come across as naughty. So there is that I guess 🙂 The service was just too long for him.

– I made my own cheese this weekend. It is the easiest and most delicious thing EVER!!! honestly all you do is strain Amasi (South African fermented milk that tastes like cottage cheese or plain yogurt) through a cheese cloth which is in a colander over bowl and leave to strain for about 12 hours then mix in your flavourings and you will love me forever (Thanks Carmen)

– I’m working on one or two Christmas products for Oh!Boykids so far it’s Santa sacks and personalised aprons, just want one more thing, hmmmm wish me luck

– I’ve been sick so my exercising is not going too well 🙁 I am eating better though so there is that!

– I made a graduation outfit for my son…it’s a princess and prince theme and I went the Afro prince route… why should moms of girls have all the fun 🙂

– Aidan is soooo messy these days honestly he lives on the naughty chair due to his need to just unpack, and throw out and make it look like I live with the Tasmanian devil

Have a great day all…thanks for the catch up  🙂

Only a housewife?! I beg to differ

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I come from a “matriarchal family” by saying that I mean my gran ruled the roost and all my aunts studied and worked and studied some more.

My mom however was “only a housewife” I never understood that term especially the “only” part.
I knew she had a really tough upbringing (she could write a book that would have you balling your eyes out)  I also know that she was never “only” anything.
Before she stopped working she put in crazy hours at a diner (yes an actual diner, no I wasn’t born in America in 1960) She did that to help my dad pay for his studies after he was wrongfully dismissed on my first birthday.
When she “stopped working” my cousins were always over, the people in town started to think my mom (who even to this day looks super young) had way too many babies. She looked after them so my aunts could work and study. 
She sewed and knitted for people to make extra money and we sold things like popcorn, fudge and the ice lollies we would make by freezing juice in cups with sticks in.
I remember my parents taking on projects together, he can fix anything, she can sew anything (but she has never been afraid of a challenge so I know she even tiled and painted under my dads guidance)  she has also always been involved with the church, from Sunday school teacher to treasury.

Through it all she had our uniforms ready every morning along with our breakfasts, lunch for when we got home and supper at night (takeaways were not big back then, or should I say money wasn’t) and she found the time to craft and bake with us and teach her awkward daughter who didn’t have many friends how to jump rope and play hopscotch. (She was a pinterest mom before pinterest was a thing)
She quizzed us for exams, made sure God was not just part of our vocab, but our lives and ruled with an iron fist and a dirty look.
I’ve heard jealous women refer to her as lucky, “she has a fancy car and doesn’t even have a job, must be nice” I’ve watched her hold her composure as they would suggest she was lucky to “land my dad” She was referred to as a trophy wife in front of her children and remained so dignified it instantly taught me the meaning of “ladylike”.
Now she helps raise my child, she teaches him about gardening and sharing and loves him and my sister’s son fiercely.
She’s the one who puts flowers on my other sons grave, who opens my windows when she fears I’m getting depressed and always manages to put others first even when she vows she will take some “me time”.
She leaves me notes of encouragement when she cant find the words to say and probably “gets me” way more than anyone else.
My mother was and is not “Just a Housewife”… like every woman who chooses this route she is a superwoman and my inspiration. 

DIY spinning flower plate

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For today’s nursery rhyme we are doing Mary quite contrary. I don’t really know the meaning behind it just that it gives me this whimsical feeling and what is more whimsical than spinning flowers 🙂

I did this craft with Aidan and as you can see it was a hit

U need paper plates with two small holes in the middle, string, paint, scissors (although I did not do this I think it would help to glue two plates together for firmer spinning flower)

Paint your boards into bright flowers and leave to dry 
String through the hole, you want it to be a loop. so you have a long piece of string
put one side in one hole and other side in other hole then knot the pieces together

Then spin and pull 🙂 

That’s it from me don’t forget to take a look at what the others came up with:

LUCHAE
RUTH

Real Wahms of SA: Lauren does speech therapy and EVERYTHING else

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Today’s interviewee is not typical (but hey who is)  she wasn’t sure if she fit into the wahm box as she is a speech therapist,  bakes cupcakes and cakes to order, studies teaching and is an agent for two companies while taking care of her mom who is recovering from  brain surgery. ( I wasn’t sure if she wasn’t actually a superhero or a robot)
 
I had to take some time to even fully process what this woman’s days must be like and am inspired already… Also I kind of feel like a lady of leisure after reading this, she puts me to SHAME 🙂
Here Lauren’s story
 
 
 
Tell us about your family:
I live in Clanwilliam with my husband, Shaun, and our amazing 15 month old girl, Mila. My mom is staying with us for a while as she is recovering from cancer and brain surgery. I try to spend as much time as I can at home, Mila is learning so many new things now, and I want to stimulate her as much as I can.
 
Why did you become a work from home mom:
 I used to work at a well-established speech therapy practice in Cape Town, but decided I want to start my own practice so that I can have my own hours and be my own boss. At the time we were also planning on having a baby, so it would have been perfect to work from home.
 
What was the most unexpected part of becoming a wahm:
 The amount of time that I had to spend away from home!
 
What has been the hardest part:
All the admin! At the previous practice we had a receptionist that made all our call, did all of our admin, filing, etc. Now, with all of the different things I’m doing, I have so much more admin, and nobody to help with it.
 
What is the most rewarding:
 Knowing that I worked hard during the week and being able stay at home on a Friday and have pajama day with my baby J
 
What is your day like:
Every day is different. On a Monday and Tuesday mornings I’m free to do as I please, I follow up on orders, reply to emails and plan my week. Sometimes I bake or do deliveries. In the afternoon I go fetch two kiddies and bring them to my home for extra homework help (I help them on Mondays to Thursdays).
 
On Wednesday and Thursday mornings I see a couple of kiddies for speech therapy, then I spend a few hours with my baby until I go fetch the homework kids.
 
If I bake, I usually do it on a Friday as most birthday parties and babyshowers are on Saturdays. The rest of the Friday is all mine!
 
In between all of this I try and see my mom for therapy for at least an hour a day, do assignments for university, do the shopping, cooking & cleaning, and sleep!
 
Tell us about your business:
 My practice is registered as Lauren Taljaard Speech Therapy, but I wear so many hats that I don’t have a company or company name.
 
 
What sets you apart:
A lady commented on my cupcakes and told me “I love your cupcakes because you love your cupcakes”. I love everything I do, be it baking or giving speech therapy, and the fact that I do it out of love first and necessity last shows in my work.
 
Where do you see it going:
In an ideal world I would be a speech therapist for two mornings a week and run a playgroup for two mornings a week and be with Mila in the afternoons, and have enough cupcake and cake orders to keep me busy all day on a Friday. I want to keep my weekends open for family time, which to me is the most important time of all.
 
 
Also if you in the Clanwilliam area contact her for cuppity cakes
 
* If I contacted you about an interview and you have not been featured yet feel free to drop me a line I have quite a few interviews in the pipe line SERIOUSLY had no idea how many Wahms there were in the country!!! LOVING THIS SERIES!!! hope you do to 🙂

Aidan at two and a half

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I have not done an Aidy update in forever OMW not since like 16 months!!!
Yes I chatted about him, I do all the time, sorry, but I haven’t done the list, so here goes…
Aidan at 30months which is exactly 2 and a half (shame I have been referring to him as 2 and a half for ages now…oops)

APPEARANCE: He is such a beaut (yes I’m biased). The kid is rather pale (sheme Edward Cullen) and seems to have his fathers height going for him. He is quite skinny but according to healthcare professionals he is growing nicely. He also has curly hair cut/styled into a faux hawk because it’s easier to take care of (and adorable).



PERSONALITY: He talks NON STOP and his vocab takes me by surprise most days. He is shy in large social settings; he plays well with others, but prefers one-on-one play dates to group activities. Aidan is very witty and loves making jokes even if it is referring to people by other names to get a laugh or acting silly, he loves making people smile.




HE CAN NOW:  His vocabulary is pretty good, he speaks in full on sentences and will ask me what does …. mean when he hears a word he doesn’t understand. He can count (till 20ish), knows his shapes and colours and sings the alphabet (sorta: LemENOpee). He has a unique way of looking at things he told me that a heart is two circles and a triangle and a star is lots of triangles. He asks me things like “what do they do that for” instead of the usual “why”. He is quite the creative, play dough is his favorite activity but anything in the crafting realm makes him very happy.




LOVES: His Caleb (my sister’s son) he has really grown into the “big cousin” role so well it warms my heart. He loooves watching craft tutorials on YouTube and playing with play dough NEVER gets old. He enjoys running around and riding his bike. He is also extremely busy and climbs absolutely everything and anything.


DISLIKES: Meat “please don’t eat the chickens mommy” he also dislikes the naughty chair and sitting still or being QUIET FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!! honestly the only time he is not talking is when he is singing. He suddenly can’t stand milk and has an aversion to staying in one place.
 
MOM:  Is so proud of her little boy but also has to be careful of what she does and says around him. She is still concerned about his eating but feels better as he adds another food to his repertoire every now and again. cream cheese sandwiches are a thing now 🙂

Time to embrace the “boskop” beauties

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picture from twitter

Hair is a topic with varying view points but I thought I’d share mine…

Over the years I have had a ton of different hairstyles… seriously see HERE

I then gave up all the heat and stuff and opted for the natural route see HERE

The point of this post? Well I was thinking there is just not enough natural hair representatives like celeb Pearl Thusi out there.

The girls who don’t have long flowing hair worthy of a shampoo ad grow up thinking they have the short end of the stick.

Weaves, braids and relaxers are used to fix this curse we have been born with because “kroes, curly, bushy” hair is not on.

It occurs to me that this is just how we are brought up… It has been  drilled into most black and coloured women (and white) that there is no need to look “raggedy” with their own hair when there is all this Brazilian blow outs, relaxers and weaves out there.

I mean most of the black starlets are rocking weaves and wigs… you didn’t think that was Beyonce’s real hair did you?

I’m not saying there is anything wrong with trying different things or making things easier for yourself (actually thinking summer is here so I might braid for swimming)  I just think it’s time we teach our little girls (and boys) that there is nothing wrong with the hair sprouting out of their heads. If they opt to chemically or otherwise change their hair it needs to be a personal decision, one where they feel they want to for themselves and not because society dictates that what they were born with is not good enough.

I know it’s sort of soap boxy but it hurts me when  I see little girls taught that their natural beauty is not enough, that just because they don’t have ringlets blowing in the wind they are not as pretty as their friends.

The great thing is so much more people are embracing what they were born with so pretty soon being a bos kop will be seen as a good thing. SA celeb Pearl Thusi (seen above) is a great example of this)

 I grew up believing my hair was my worst quality (attribute) …turns out my worst quality was listening to the opinions of others 😉

 If you or your someone you know is in need of some natural hair inspiration check out these awesome local bloggers:
Lots of love from me to you 🙂
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Eleanor J’adore

The Mandy Expedition

 

Silk Helmet Lady